To Belin

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 7 Jun 2011 22:48
To Belin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The early morning light gave way to a beautiful morning, anchor up and away at a quarter past eight and for a change no sailing on the spot today; in fact we could relax from looking at the depth gauge every other second and really enjoy the views. This part of the ICW is just one vast deep, wide river - The Waccamaw, no markers to bother with. Spoke to a passing Captain – Joe on sailing yacht Onward - we had met in the Bahamas, he said that the next leg of our journey took us into a forested area – trees right to the water’s edge.
 
 
 
 
 
In fact we saw trees IN the water, apparently very happy and healthy. We saw the Osprey Marina and Grill sign, crikey with fifteen miles warning - three hours away in our case. Bear said the Wise Owl was trying to make amends for his absence during his kidnap by bribing the osprey with food – feeding his friends to win back their trust.
 
 
       
 
 

Have you ever seen a lens cap used like a Japanese fighting star,

Bear has.

Duck Bear Duck

 

 

   

 

 

 

I have to admit that there might be something in it though, as all of a sudden we were in the osprey flight path, loads of them

 

 

 

 

"Did someone say food"

 

 

    

 

 

 

I know I wasn't to take any more pictures of dolphins unless they were doing a flipper impression, standing on their tails in a backward motion, whilst wearing a pink tutu, but.......OK so no Tutu

 

 

 

 

Talking of different, Bear took a picture of what he called the Junior Edition of the Tamar Ferry, I liked the slippery sign though

 

 

 

 

A while later I thought I saw something interesting. It’s just a log. Oh yes, how many logs have you met with eyeballs and pointy things I replied. Our first really wild chap as the one we saw at the Kennedy Space Centre didn't really count. This was on a deserted bit of the ICW. Bear was at the wheel and I readily agreed when he offered to do a 'u-eee'. Had it been a narrow bit of the channel in shallow water I would had said no, but too good an opportunity, so round he swung Beez. As we approached I made a hissing sound, immediately the chap answered with his own low, baritone hhhhheeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, then went to the grassy edge. Bear was good enough to repeat the circuit but my new non friend just ducked under. Checking the map we are at mile 421 - Alligator Creek.

 

 

 

 

 

Soon after we saw these intrepid folks in their kayaks, little did they know what was just ahead around the corner

 

 

 

 

Through a wide channel we had another 'tail slapping session', easy to see as the fish were all over the surface in their thousands

 

 

 

 

 

 

A side turning took us from the main ICW and along a deep river to of all things a beach. Belin.

 

 

 
 

 

We tried to anchor, hooked a log, tried again - too deep and pulling, eventually we went opposite the beach on the other side of the channel. Whilst I did supper Bear dibbled his feet in the water but was put off going in as the river bed let up bubbles and put him off, thinkin' bout gators, honey. People came and went, to jet ski, paddle, swim and dog walk. When everyone was gone and the outboard motor noise had died the place was truly 'off a jigsaw box'.

 

 

 

 

 

Our last civilised visitor was this handsome dragonfly, he rested awhile, then sat beside me whilst I gave Bear a caning at backgammon - cheek. I was worried his wings would get cold and he may die overnight; so I offered him some vodka and diet coke on the end of my finger. I think you'll find he is teetotal.

Have you ever seen anyone throw their dice in such a vicious manner.

Bear has.

Quiet Bear quiet.

Well the last laugh of this extraordinary day was on Bear. He plugged in the cockpit light and within seconds bugs by the score wear all caught up in his fur coat, dance, I didn't know you could dance.

 

 

 

 

 

ALL IN ALL WHOEVER SAID THE ICW WAS BORING AIN'T GOT THEIR EYES OPEN Y'ALL